Headmount apparatus for attaching and supporting devices

ABSTRACT

A headmount apparatus for mounting vision enhancement equipment thereon which is comprised of a mounting shell having at least one pad and having at least one mounting surface to which the vision enhancing equipment is mounted, where at least one pad is configured to contact the user&#39;s head. The headmount apparatus is also comprised of at least one elastic strap which is attached to the mounting shell for securing the mounting shell to the user&#39;s head. The headmount apparatus for mounting vision enhancement equipment thereon could alternatively be comprised of at least one mounting frame for attaching vision enhancement equipment, at least one hardware mounting surface for accepting the mounting frame, and a hood configured to fit over a user&#39;s head where the hood is made at least in part from an elastic material and which contains the hardware mounting surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a headmount apparatus configured tofixably receive and support devices, such as for use in mounting visionenhancing equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are known headmount devices for attaching and supporting visionenhancing equipment, commonly used to free the hands of the user orotherwise provide ease and efficiency of use and enhanced activity. Suchvision enhancing equipment includes night vision goggles, binoculars,prescription or protective lenses, microscopic lenses and similardevices. These vision enhancing devices are utilized for example, in avariety of military and commercial applications where enhanced visionduring low light or night conditions is desirable, or to performmicroscopic surgery. The operation and mounting of certain visionenhancing equipment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,599 entitledMOUNTING BRACKET ASSEMBLY FOR A NIGHT VISION DEVICE issued to Gary L.Palmer on Jan. 12, 1999 (also see U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,364 entitled NIGHTVISION BINOCULARS issued to Gary L. Palmer on Feb. 27, 1996, and U.S.Pat. No. 5,537,261 entitled NIGHT VISION BINOCULARS issued to Gary L.Palmer on Jul. 16, 1996).

One of the purposes for employing headmount equipment is to suspend thevision enhancing equipment, which typically weighs 0.3-0.9 kg, in frontof the user's eye(s). Suspending the vision enhancing equipment in frontof the user's eye(s) leaves his hands free to operate or manipulateother equipment. Additionally, the headmount equipment should serve tominimize the relative motion between the device and the user's eye(s).By minimizing this relative motion, the user's head movement does notprevent the image projected by the system from being seen by the user.

Common headmounts consist of a harness which grabs the user's head, aplatform that distributes the load attached to the headmount equipment,and single or multiple links which attach the vision enhancing device tothe platform. Conventional harness configurations utilize adjustablestraps to tightly bind the platform to the user's head. One problem withthe conventional harness configurations is that the degree to which theharness maintains the position of the vision enhancing device in frontof the user's eye(s) is determined by the tightness of its adjustablestraps.

Another problem with the prior art headmounts is that they are difficultto adjust. For example, when a user positions the platform on theirhead, they typically place and hold it in position with one hand, anduse the other hand to roughly adjust the straps. And then once thestraps are tightened enough so as to suspend the vision enhancingequipment in front of the user's face, the user needs to employ bothhands to adjust the tension and length of all the straps until theharness is properly fitted. As evident from the above description,adjustment of the straps while the platform is on the user's head isdifficult. Additionally, the straps used to bind the platform to theuser's head are typically hard to operate. In particular, the strapsmust be loosened in the buckle before they can actually be tightened.Moreover, the buckles often interfere with the comfort of the user sincethey impinge on the user's cranium.

Another shortcoming associated with typical headmount equipment is thefact that the conventional vision enhancing equipment attached to theheadmount equipment is often heavy and cantilevered away from thesupport out over the user's line of sight. This cantilevering requires agreat deal of tension to reliably hold the system in position, whichresults in constriction of the user's cranium. This constriction in turncauses a whole range of deleterious side-effects. For example, theconstriction of the user's cranium might cause initial discomfort whichcould increase over time and could result in pain.

Such discomfort and/or pain impedes the user's situational awareness bydistracting him or causing fatigue and could provoke the user to removethe headmount equipment to alleviate the pain. Because headachesresulting from such pain may last for hours, the typical headmountsystem actually causes the user to not employ the vision enhancementsystem since he cannot bear the pain associated with its use.

Moreover, because the headmount equipment is often used in adversesituations, it is commonly worn in conjunction with a helmet. However,the straps and buckles used to keep the platform properly positioned areoften bulky. And because of this bulkiness, the headmount may not becompatible with other head-mounted equipment such as a helmet, becausethe straps and buckles are too bulky to allow a user to simultaneouslywear a headmount device and a helmet because the harness of the typicalheadmount equipment interferes with the helmet's suspension system.

This interference also causes localized pressure on the soft tissue ofthe user, causing pain either immediately, or over time. Such localizedpain to soft tissue is commonly referred to as a “hotspot.”Additionally, the interference of the harness with the helmet'ssuspension system also causes problems with attaining the properadjustment of the helmet in conjunction with the headmount equipment.And even after the user properly adjusts the helmet, the interference ofthe harness with the helmet's suspension system interferes withmaintaining the proper adjustment of both the helmet and the headmountequipment.

Another problem commonly associated with typical headmount equipment isthat it fails to distribute the load of the vision enhancing system overthe optimal portion of the cranium. For example, optimally distributingthe load over the top of the skull, the forehead, the temporal regionand the cheekbone would eliminate much of the pain and discomfortdiscussed above. Another problem commonly associated with typicalheadmount equipment is that it prevents the expansion of the cranium.Such expansion occurs with normal dilation of blood vessels andincreased blood flow due to temperature regulation and/or physicalexertion. Preventing the cranium from expanding will result in the userexperiencing the pain and discomfort discussed above. Similarly, thetypical headmount equipment will not contract along with the craniumwhen the blood vessels constrict. Therefore, as the cranium contractsthe typical headmount loosens and allows the headmount equipment to moveout of place.

Another problem with the typical headmount equipment is that it blocks aconsiderable portion of the user's facial area. For example, typicalheadmount equipment is bulky and extends into the user's peripheralvision, resulting in a reduction to the user's field of vision.Similarly, the poor design of typical headmount equipment also preventsthe user from employing communication devices or breathing apparatuswhile simultaneously wearing the headmount equipment.

Problems also arise when the user employs incompatible protective eyewear in conjunction with typical headmount equipment. For example,common headmount equipment fails to provide enough space between it andthe user's cranium so as to allow the arms of protective eyewear to wraparound the user's cranium. Therefore, the arms of the protective eyewearare forced on top of the headmount equipment. Positioning the eye wearin such a manner that prevents it from snuggly fitting against theuser's cranium, thereby allowing the eyewear to fall off or move out ofposition.

Accordingly, these and other drawbacks exist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, an apparatus is provided thatovercomes these and other drawbacks in the existing headmount apparatus.According to one embodiment of the present invention the headmountapparatus for mounting vision enhancement equipment thereon should becomprised of a mounting shell having at least one pad and having atleast one mounting surface to which the vision enhancing equipment ismounted, where the at least one pad is configured to contact the user'shead, and at least one elastic strap is attached to the mounting shellfor securing the mounting shell to the user's head.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the headmountapparatus for mounting vision enhancement equipment thereon should becomprised of at least one mounting frame for attaching visionenhancement equipment, at least one hardware mounting surface foraccepting the at least one mounting frame; and a hood configured to fitover a user's head and being made at least in part from an elasticmaterial and comprising the at least one hardware mounting surface.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be setforth in part in the description which follows, and in part will beobvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of theinvention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realizedand attained by means of instrumentalities and combinations,particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of headmount apparatus will be presented, and theirhandling and special features explained in the following description andwith reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a front view of a full headmount.

FIG. 2 depicts an angled frontal view of a full headmount.

FIG. 3 depicts a side view of a full headmount.

FIG. 4A a depicts the rear view of the two parts of the occipitalassembly in the full headmount.

FIG. 4B depicts the rear view of the connected occipital assembly in thefull headmount.

FIG. 4C depicts the rear view of the connected occipital assembly beingtightened in the full headmount.

FIG. 5 depicts the release of the occipital assembly in the fullheadmount.

FIG. 6 depicts the rear view of the interior of the full headmount.

FIG. 7A depicts an angled frontal view of the full head embodiment withelastic straps.

FIG. 7B depicts an angled rear view of the full head embodiment withelastic straps.

FIG. 7C depicts a rear view of the full head embodiment with adjustmentbuckles.

FIG. 7D depicts a rear view of a five strap full head embodiment withadjustment buckle.

FIG. 8 depicts an angled side view of the half headmount.

FIG. 9 depicts a side view of the half headmount.

FIG. 10 depicts the rear view of the two parts of the occipital assemblyin the half headmount

FIG. 11A depicts an angled side view of the half head embodiment withelastic straps.

FIG. 11B depicts a side view of the half head embodiment with elasticstraps.

FIG. 11C depicts a rear view of the half head embodiment with adjustmentbuckles.

FIG. 12A depicts a side view of the hood headmount.

FIG. 12B depicts a front view of the hood headmount.

FIG. 13 depicts an angled front view of the mounting frame and hardwaremounting surface.

FIG. 14 depicts a side view of the mounting frame and mounted lens.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-6 show varying views of the full headmount embodiment 2 of theinventive device, which is comprised of a full mounting shell or fullface mask 4, a top strap 6, an occipital assembly 8, a right strap 10, aleft strap 12, and pressure pads 14, 15, 16, 18 and 20. FIG. 1 shows afrontal view of the face mask 4 consisting of the left and righttemporal hardware mounting surface 22 and 24, the left and right cheekhardware mounting surface 26 and 28, the forehead hardware mountingsurface 28, the left and right eyewear bridge 32 and 34 which can alsoaccommodate the mounting of hardware, a left and right temporalsingle-eyelet 36 and 38, a left and right cheek double-eyelet 40 and 42,and a frontal eyelet 44.

The full face mask 4 consists of a semi-flexible plastic shell made of athermoplastic elastomer or the like. The full face mask 4 begins in theuser's temporal region, extends across the frontal portion of thecranium ending in the opposite temporal region, while also extendingdown into both cheek regions of the cranium. Because the full face mask4 is molded to wrap around the frontal portion of the user's cranium, itminimizes or even eliminates contact with the sphenoid region of theuser's cranium. Although the full face mask 4 may be manufactured invarying sizes so as to accommodate all classes of craniums, using asemi-flexible plastic shell minimizes the number of sizes of headmountsthat need to be manufactured because the semi-flexible plastic shell isanthropometric in that it allows the full face mask 4 to flex open, oropen up, so as to fit a greater number of different sized craniums.

Even though the full face mask 4 is anthropometrically adjustable, italso provides enough rigidity at local regions to mount and hold thevarious head-mounted vision enhancement and communication hardwareemployed by the various user groups discussed below. For example, visionassist devices can be mounted at the left and right temporal hardwaremounting surface 22 and 24, at the left and right cheek hardwaremounting surface 26 and 28, at the left and right eyewear bridge 32 and34, and/or at the forehead hardware mounting surface 30. Importantly,the thermoplastic elastomer is rigid enough to support the visionenhancing equipment without requiring that it be cantilevered about theusers face. Additionally this rigidity not only prevents the visionenhancing equipment from shifting before the user's eyes, but iteliminates the typical deformity to the shell that is caused by theweight of the vision enhancing equipment.

The face mask 4 is held in position on the user's cranium by the topstrap 6, the right strap 10 and the left strap 12, which are fabricatedof an inelastic but breathable material, such as cotton, polypropylene,nylon or any such non-stretching webbing. All of the straps 6, 10 and 12can be attached to the face mask 4 by any method known in the art. Inone embodiment the top strap 6 sits atop the user's head, beginning atthe frontal eyelet 32. After passing one end of the top strap 6 throughthe frontal eyelet 32, it is looped onto itself and riveted with the topstrap rivet 34. The other end of the top strap 6 is then passed throughthe top occipital double-eyelet 48 on the occipital buckle plate 8.Employing double-eyelets allows a given strap to have a point ofadjustment.

The left strap 12 begins in the left temporal eyelet 36, passes throughthe occipital insert eyelet 50, and then passes through the left cheekdouble-eyelet 40. Ending the left strap 12 in the left cheekdouble-eyelet 40 provides the left strap 12 with a point of adjustment.The left strap 12 is secured to the full face mask 4 by either loopingthe left strap 12 through the left temporal eyelet 36 and then attachingit to itself by either a rivet, a snap, a button or any similar type ofattachment such as stitching, or the left temporal eyelet 36 can beeliminated and the left strap can be attached directly to the face mask4 by any attachment means known in the art, such as being directlymolded into the full face mask 4, or being riveted directly onto thefull face mask 4.

Similarly, the right strap 10 begins in the right temporal eyelet 38,passes through the occipital buckle plate eyelet 52, and then passesthrough the right cheek double-eyelet 42. Ending the right strap 10 inthe right cheek double-eyelet 42 provides the right strap 10 with apoint of adjustment. The right strap 10 is secured to the full face mask4 by either looping the right strap 10 through the right temporal eyelet38 and then attaching it to itself by either a rivet, a snap, a buttonor any similar type of attachment such as stitching, or the righttemporal eyelet 38 can be eliminated and the right strap 10 can beattached directly to the face mask 4 by any attachment means known inthe art, such as being directly molded into the face mask 4, or beingriveted directly onto the full face mask 4. The beginning and end pointsof all the straps can be interchanged, along with the interchanging ofthe respective single and double eyelets.

The occipital assembly 8 is positioned either over or below theoccipital protuberance, and is comprised of the occipital insert 54 andthe occipital buckle plate 56. The occipital insert 54 contains theoccipital insert eyelet 50 and an adjustment tongue 58. The adjustmenttongue 58 contains angled ridges that allow it to be inserted into theoccipital buckle 60, but which prevent it from unintentionallywithdrawing from the occipital buckle 60. The occipital buckle plate 56contains the occipital buckle plate eyelet 52, the top occipitaldouble-eyelet 48, and the occipital buckle 60. The occipital buckle 60can be attached to the occipital buckle plate 56 by any means known inthe art, including bolting, gluing, or molding the occipital buckleplate 56 with the occipital buckle 60 already in place.

After the user places the full headmount 2 on his head he can adjust thetop strap 6, the right strap 10 and the left strap 12 for a snug fit bypulling on the loose ends of each strap that emerge from the topoccipital double-eyelet 48, the right cheek double-eyelet 38 and theleft cheek double-eyelet 36, respectively. For an even snugger fit theadjustment tongue 58 can be inserted into the occipital buckle 60, asshown in FIGS. 4A through 4B. Once inserted, the full headmount 2 is fitsnugly to the user's head, thereby allowing the user to wear the fullheadmount 2 during light maneuvers without it moving around on his head.

If the user wishes to attain a tighter fit so that the full headmount 2does not move around during rigorous maneuvers, as shown in FIG. 4C theuser can lift up on the adjustment lever 62 as needed, thereby advancingthe adjustment tongue 58 further into the occipital buckle 60. With eachadvancement of the adjustment tongue 58 into the occipital buckle 60,each of the straps will tighten. For example, as the adjustment tongue58 moves into the occipital buckle 60, thereby tightening the rightstrap 10 and the left strap 12, those two straps will cause theoccipital assembly 8 to move further below the occipital protuberance.This results in the tightening of the top strap 6.

Once the user has inserted the occipital insert 54 into the occipitalbuckle plate 56 and tightened the straps either snuggly or tightly, hecan gain immediate release from the full headmount 2 by depressing therelease tab 64. Depressing the release tab releases the pressure on theraised tabs of the adjustment tongue 58, thereby allowing the adjustmenttongue 58 to exit the occipital buckle 60, which in turn results in alessening of the tension exerted by the various straps on the user'scranium. While the straps in the embodiment containing the occipitalassembly are preferably composed of inelastic material, the straps canalso be fabricated of stretchable or breathable material, such as lycraor neoprene, as discussed herein.

The full head embodiment of the face mask 4 mounts on and is supportedby the user's cranium at the points where the full face mask 4 contactsand rests upon the user's cranium. Specifically, the full headembodiment of the full face mask 4 contacts the user's cranium at theleft and right temporal hardware mounting surfaces 22 and 24, at theleft and right cheekbone mounting surfaces 26 and 28, and at theforehead hardware mounting surface 30. These mounting surfaces 22, 24,26, 28 and 30 or contact points support the full face mask 4, therebyallowing vision enhancement equipment and communication devices to bemounted to it. Additionally, these contact points on the mountingsurfaces support the mounted vision enhancing equipment so as to preventthe mounting shell or face mask 4 from deforming from the weight of thevision enhancing equipment. Because these contact points are lesssensitive to pressure, they aid in eliminating the “hot spots” whichcommonly occur from use of headmounts.

As shown particularly in FIG. 6, the backside of each of the mountingsurfaces 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30 has a corresponding pressure pad. Forexample, under the left and right temporal hardware mounting surfaces 22and 24, there is a corresponding left temporal pressure pad 14 and righttemporal pressure pad 15; under the forehead hardware mounting surface30 there is a corresponding forehead pressure pad 16; and under the leftand right cheek hardware mounting surfaces 26 and 28 there is acorresponding left cheek pressure pad 18 and a right cheek pressure pad20. These pressure pads 14-20 are attached to the inside of the fullface mask 4 by any means known in the art, such as hook and loopfasteners, glue, snaps, bonding, velcro, etc.

These pressure pads 14-20 are manufactured in differing thicknesses anddiffering compression strengths so as to allow the user to optimize thecomfort and fit of the full face mask 4 to their distinct anthropometricfeatures. In addition to thereby being form compliant to the user's skinand underlying skull, the differing thicknesses and compressionstrengths act as a load distributing interface between the full facemask 4 and its mounting surfaces, and the user. The inelastic straps 6,10 and 12 provide a positive link between the occipital assembly 8 andthese pads. Additionally, because the pressure pads 14-20 are removable,the user can adjust their position so as to minimize the pressureasserted on a given area. The pressure pads 14-20 are coated with amoisture wicking covering well known in the art, as well as with a rotinhibitor which inhibits mold and/or fungus from growing on the pads.

An alternative full headmount embodiment 72 is shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B,in which the full face mask 74 is similar to the full face mask 4described above, except that the straps differ and the occipitalassembly is eliminated. Specifically, the full headmount 72 embodimentis comprised of a full mounting shell or full face mask 74, a top strap76, a side strap 77, and pressure pads including a left temporalpressure pad 78, a right temporal pressure pad 79, a forehead pressurepad 80, a left cheek pressure pad 81 and a right cheek pressure pad 82.The full face mask 74 consists of the left and right temporal hardwaremounting surface 83 and 84, the left and right cheek hardware mountingsurface 85 and 86, the forehead hardware mounting surface 87, the leftand right eyewear bridge 88 and 89 which also allows for the mounting ofhardware, a left and right temporal double-eyelet 90 and 91, and afrontal double-eyelet 92.

The full face mask 74 in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B is similar to the full facemask 4 described above in terms of materials, construction, points ofcontact, rigidity, padding, etc., except that it only has three pointsof attachment for the straps. For purposes of illustration, the sidestrap 77 begins by being looped through the left temporal double-eyelet90, is wrapped around the user's head, and ends in the in right temporaldouble-eyelet 91. Although the double-eyelets 90 and 91 offer both endsof the side strap 77 a point of adjustment, the side strap 77 could alsobe cut to fit a certain class or size of craniums and then bepermanently fixed to the full face mask 74 by any method discussedabove. The top strap 76 is the second strap, and it begins in thefrontal double-eyelet 92 and ends by being attached to the side strap 77in any number of ways. For example, the top strap could be stitched tothe side strap 77, or the top strap 76 could be looped around the sidestrap 77, and then stitched back onto itself so that the side strap 77and top strap 76 move independent of each other as shown in FIG. 7C. Thetightness of the top strap 76 and the side strap 77 can also be adjustedby employing the strap in conjunction with the doublet buckle 80 shownin FIG. 7C and FIG. 7D. This doublet buckle 80, which should be as thinas possible to minimize interference with other headgear, can also beemployed with the full head embodiment 2 discussed herein. Although thefrontal double-eyelet 92 also provides the top strap 76 with a point ofadjustment as discussed above, the top strap 76 could also be directlyattached to the full face mask 74 by any method discussed above.

Another difference between the above described full headmount 2 asdepicted in FIGS. 1-6, and the full headmount 74 in FIGS. 7A-7D is thatthe top strap 76 and the side strap 77 are made of stretchable,breathable material, such as lycra or a perforated neoprene. Using suchstretchable material has several advantages, including increasing thenumber of head sizes that can use a given class of full headmounts 2. Italso provides a snugger fit to the user's head without resorting toadjusting the straps 76 and 77 in the respective double-eyelets 90, 91and 92. In fact, the very nature of the lycra or perforated neoprenematerial could even allow for the elimination of the left and righttemporal double-eyelets 90 and 91, and elimination of the frontaldouble-eyelet 92 because once the straps were permanently attached tothe full face mask 74, the straps 76 and 77 would simply stretch to asnug fit on the user's head. Such a snug fit is enhanced by the factthat the full face mask is anthropometric, thereby allowing it to flexopen and fit snugly on the user's cranium. While the straps in anembodiment lacking an occipital assembly are preferably composed of anelastic material, the straps can also be fabricated of the non-elasticmaterial such as cotton, as discussed herein.

If the double-eyelets are employed, the user can adjust the fit of thefull headmount 72 after placing it on his head by pulling on the looseends of each strap that emerge from the frontal double-eyelet 92, theleft temporal double-eyelet 90 and the right temporal double-eyelet 91.Once adjusted, the full headmount 72 embodiment is ready to allow theuser to wear the full headmount 72 during light maneuvers without itmoving around on his head. Additionally, the user can employ the fullheadmount 72 to mount lightweight vision enhancement devices, such asnight vision cameras or microscopic lenses, which are used in situationswhere the user is not performing vigorous maneuvers, such as a surgeonperforming microscopic surgery, or a computer user viewing aminiaturized display. The top strap 76 and side strap 77 can also beadjusted by manipulating those straps within the doublet buckle 80 asdiscussed herein.

By eliminating the occipital assembly from the full headmount 72embodiment, and employing only thin flexible straps made of lycra orperforated neoprene, and/or employing thin doublet buckles, theinterference between the full headmount 72 and other protective headgear worn by the user, such as a helmet and its associated conventionalharness, is further reduced, minimized or even eliminated.

Alternately, the full face mask can be held in position by employing anynumber of separate straps. FIG. 7D discloses a five strap embodimentwhere one strap begins in the left cheekbone region, another begins inthe left temporal area, the third begins in the forehead region, thefourth begins in the right temporal region and the fifth begins in theright cheekbone region. These five straps are attached to the full facemask by any means described herein, and can employ the doublet bucklesdiscussed herein to allow a means of adjustment in addition to thedouble-eyelets. All five straps are joined together in the occipitalregion by any means known in the art, such as sewing the ends togetherat the occipital lobe, riveting the ends together, etc. Similar straparrangements can be constructed out of three, two one strap.

An alternative embodiment to the full headmount 2 is the half headmount102 depicted in FIGS. 8-10. The half headmount 102 is comprised of thehalf face mask 104, the top strap 106, the first side strap 110, thesecond side strap 112, the occipital assembly 108, the temporal pressurepad 115, the forehead pressure pad 116 and the cheek pressure pad 120.FIGS. 8-10 show varying views of the half face mask 104 which furtherconsists of the temporal hardware mounting surface 124, the cheekhardware mounting surface 128, the forehead hardware mounting surface130, the eyewear bridge 134 which can also accommodate mounted hardware,a forehead eyelet 136, a temporal eyelet 138, a cheek double-eyelet 142and a frontal eyelet 144. Note that all the single eyelets discussedherein are interchangeable with double eyelets. Like the embodimentdiscussed above, the half face mask 104 consists of a semi-flexibleplastic shell made of a thermoplastic elastomer or the like, whichallows for entry of varying sized craniums, while also allowing for thehalf face mask 104 to conform to the user's head.

The half face mask 104 begins in one of the user's temporal regions, andextends to but then ends about midway through the user's forehead orfrontal portion of the cranium. Because the half face mask 104 is moldedto only wrap around the user's cranium from one temporal region to thefrontal/forehead portion of the cranium, it not only minimizes or eveneliminates contact with the sphenoid region of the user's cranium, butit also eliminates contact with the opposing temporal region. Althoughthe half face mask 104 may be manufactured in varying sizes so as toaccommodate all classes of craniums, using a semi-flexible plastic shellminimizes the number of sizes of headmounts that need to be manufacturedbecause the semi-flexible plastic shell is anthropometric in that itallows the full face mask 104 to flex open, or open up, so as to fit agreater number of different sized craniums. Like the full face mask 4,the half face mask 104 also provides enough rigidity at local regions tomount and hold the various head-mounted vision enhancement andcommunication hardware employed by the various user groups discussedherein.

For example, vision assist devices can be mounted at the temporalhardware mounting surface 124, at the cheek hardware mounting surface128, at the eyewear bridge 134, and/or at the forehead hardware mountingsurface 130. Importantly, the thermoplastic elastomer is rigid enough tosupport the vision enhancing equipment without requiring that it becantilevered about the users face. Additionally this rigidity alsoprevents the vision enhancing equipment from shifting before the user'seyes.

The straps 106, 110 and 112 are fabricated of an inelastic butbreathable material, such as cotton, polypropylene, nylon or any suchnon-stretching webbing. All of the straps 106, 110 and 112 can beattached to the half face mask 104 by any method known in the art. Inone embodiment the top strap 106 sits atop the user's head, beginning atthe frontal eyelet 132. After passing one end of the top strap 106through the frontal eyelet 132, it is looped onto itself and rivetedwith the top strap rivet 146. The other end of the top strap 106 is thenpassed through the top occipital double-eyelet 148 on the occipitalbuckle plate 156. Employing double-eyelets allows a given strap to havea point of adjustment. Although the positioning and attachment of thesecond side strap 112 and the first side strap 110 as described hereincan be interchanged, for purposes of illustration the second side strap112, as shown in FIG. 8, begins in the forehead eyelet 136 in the halfface mask 104. The second side strap 112 can be attached to the foreheadeyelet 136 in the half face mask 104 by any method known in the art,such as passing one end of the second side strap 112 through theforehead eyelet 136, and then passing the other end through theoccipital insert double-eyelet 150 as shown in FIG. 10. Passing thesecond side strap 112 through the occipital insert double-eyelet 150offers the second side strap 112 a point of adjustment. The second sidestrap 112 can be secured to the forehead eyelet 136 or to the half facemask 104 by any means described herein.

As shown in FIG. 9, the first strap 110 begins in the temporal eyelet138, passes through the occipital buckle plate eyelet 152, and thenpasses through the cheek double-eyelet 142. Ending the first strap 110in the cheek double-eyelet 142 provides the first strap 110 with a pointof adjustment. The first strap 110 is secured to the half face mask 104by either looping the first strap 110 through the temporal eyelet 138and then attaching it to itself by either a rivet, a snap, a button orany similar type of attachment such as stitching, or the temporal eyelet138 can be eliminated and the first strap 110 can be attached directlyto the half face mask 104 by any attachment means known in the art, suchas being directly molded into the half face mask 104, or being riveteddirectly onto the half face mask 104. Moreover, the positioning of thesingle and double eyelets discussed herein, can be reversed.

As shown in FIG. 10, the occipital assembly 108 is positioned eitherover or below the occipital protuberance, and is comprised of theoccipital insert 154 and the occipital buckle plate 156. The occipitalinsert 154 contains the occipital insert double-eyelet 150 and anadjustment tongue 158. The adjustment tongue 158 contains angled ridgesthat allow it to be inserted into the occipital buckle 160, but whichprevent it from unintentionally withdrawing from the occipital buckle160. The occipital buckle plate 156 contains the occipital buckle plateeyelet 152, the top occipital double-eyelet 148, and the occipitalbuckle 160. The occipital buckle 160 can be attached to the occipitalbuckle plate 156 by any means known in the art, including bolting,gluing, or molding the occipital buckle plate 156 with the occipitalbuckle 160 already in place.

The half headmount 102 is made snug on the user's head as well astightened on the user's head as discussed herein. Specifically, afterthe user places the half headmount 102 on their head they can adjust thetop strap 106, first side strap 110 and the second side strap 112 for asnug fit by pulling on the loose ends of each strap that emerge from thetop occipital double-eyelet 148, the occipital insert double-eyelet 150and the cheek double-eyelet 142, respectively. For an even snugger fitthe adjustment tongue 158 can be inserted into the occipital buckle 160,as shown in FIG. 10. Once inserted, the half headmount 102 is fit snuglyto the user's head, thereby allowing the user to wear the half headmount102 during light maneuvers without it moving around on their head.

If the user wishes to attain a tighter fit so that the half headmount102 does not move around during rigorous maneuvers, the user can lift upon the adjustment lever 162 as needed, thereby advancing the adjustmenttongue 158 further into the occipital buckle 160, as disclosed herein.With each advancement of the adjustment tongue 158 into the occipitalbuckle 160, both the first side strap 112 and the second side strap 110will tighten, thereby causing the occipital assembly 108 to move furtherbelow the occipital protuberance. This results in a tightening of thetop strap 106.

Once the user has inserted the occipital insert 154 into the occipitalbuckle plate 156 and tightened the straps either snuggly or tightly, theuser can gain immediate release from the half headmount 102 bydepressing the release tab 164. Depressing the release tab 164 releasesthe pressure on the raised tabs of the adjustment tongue 158, therebyallowing the adjustment tongue 158 to exit the occipital buckle 160,which in turn results in a lessening of the tension exerted by thevarious straps on the user's cranium.

The half headmount embodiment 102 of the half face mask 104 mounts onand is supported by the user's cranium at only the three hardwaremounting sites discussed herein where the half face mask 104 contactsand rests upon the user's cranium. Specifically, the half headmount 102embodiment of the half face mask 104 mounts on the user's cranium at thetemporal hardware mounting surface 124, at the cheek hardware mountingsurface 128, and at the forehead hardware mounting surface 130. Thesemounting surfaces 124, 128 and 130 or contact points support the halfface mask 104, thereby allowing vision enhancement equipment andcommunication devices to be mounted to it, and does so without deformingand without resulting in hotspots as discussed herein.

The backside of each of these mounting surfaces 124, 128 and 130 in thehalf headmount 102 embodiment has corresponding pressure pads. Forexample, under the temporal hardware mounting surface 124, there is acorresponding temporal pressure pad 115; under the forehead hardwaremounting surface 130 there is a corresponding forehead pressure pad 116;and under the cheek hardware mounting surface 128 there is acorresponding cheek pressure pad 120. The pressure pads 115, 116, and120 are made of the same material, have the same compressive strengthand compression setting, are coated with the same coatings, and areattached and removed to the half face mask 114 as the pressure pads 14,15, 16, 18 and 20 discussed herein. The pressure pads 115, 116 and 120also relieve pressure and minimize “hot spots” as described herein inregard to pressure pads 14, 15, 16, 18 and 20. It should be noted thatany and all of the temporal pads and forehead pads discussed herein canbe fabricated and attached to the masks as a single pad.

An alternative half headmount embodiment 172 is shown in FIGS. 11A-11C,in which the half face mask 174 is the same as the half face mask 104described above, but the straps differ and the occipital assembly iseliminated. Specifically, the half headmount 172 embodiment is comprisedof a half mounting shell or half face mask 174, a top strap 176, a sidestrap 177, and pressure pads including a temporal pressure pad 178, aforehead pressure pad 180 and a cheek pressure pad 181. The half facemask 174 consists of a temporal hardware mounting surface 183, the cheekhardware mounting surface 185, the forehead hardware mounting surface187, the eyewear bridge 188 which can also accommodate the mounting ofhardware, a temporal double-eyelet 190, a forehead double-eyelet 191 anda frontal double-eyelet 192.

The half face mask 174 in FIG. 11 is similar to the half face mask 104described above in terms of materials, construction, points of contact,rigidity, padding, etc., except that it only has three points ofattachment for the straps. For purposes of illustration the side strap177 begins by being looped through the temporal double eyelet 190, iswrapped around the user's head, and ends in the forehead double eyelet191. Although the temporal double-eyelet 190 and the foreheaddouble-eyelet 191 offer both ends of the side strap 177 a point ofadjustment, the side strap 177 could also be cut to fit a certain classor size of craniums and then be permanently fixed to the half face mask174 by any method discussed herein.

The top strap 176 begins in the frontal double-eyelet 192 and ends bybeing attached to the side strap 177 in any number of ways. For example,as disclosed herein the top strap 176 could be stitched to the sidestrap 177, or similar to that shown in FIG. 11C the top strap 176 couldbe looped around the side strap 177, and then stitched back onto itselfso that the side strap 177 and top strap 176 can move independent ofeach other. The tightness of the top strap 176 and the side strap 177can also be adjusted by employing a doublet buckle 180 as shown in FIGS.11B and 11C. This doublet buckle 180, which should be as thin aspossible to minimize interference with other headgear, can also beemployed with the full head embodiment 172 discussed herein. Althoughthe frontal double-eyelet 192 also provides the top strap 176 with apoint of adjustment as discussed above, the top strap 176 could also bedirectly attached to the half face mask 174 by any method discussedherein.

Another difference between the above described half headmount 102discussed above, and the half headmount 172 disclosed in FIG. 11Athrough FIG. 11C is that the top strap 176 and the side strap 177 aremade of stretchable and/or breathable material, such as lycra or aperforated neoprene. Using such stretchable material has severaladvantages, including increasing the number of head sizes that can use agiven class of half headmounts 172. It also provides a snugger fit tothe user's head without resorting to adjusting the straps 176 and 177 inthe respective double-eyelets 190, 191 and 192. In fact, the very natureof the lycra or perforated neoprene material could allow for theelimination of the temporal double eyelet 190, the forehead doubleeyelet 191, and the elimination of the frontal double-eyelet 192 becausethe straps 176 and 177, after being permanently attached to the halfface mask 174, would simply stretch on the user's head to provide a snugfit. Such a snug fit is enhanced by the fact that the half face mask isanthropometric, thereby allowing it to flex open and fit snugly on theuser's cranium.

However, if the eyelets are employed the user achieves a tight fit ontheir head by placing the full headmount 172 on his head and adjusts thetop strap 176 and the side strap 177 by pulling on the loose ends ofeach strap that emerge from the frontal double-eyelet 192, the temporaldouble-eyelet 190 and the forehead double-eyelet 191. Once adjusted, thehalf headmount 172 embodiment is ready to allow the user to wear thefull headmount 172 during light maneuvers without it moving around onhis head. Additionally, the user can use the half headmount 172 to mountlightweight vision enhancement devices, such as microscopic lenses,which are used in situations where the user is not performing vigorousmaneuvers, such as a surgeon performing microscopic surgery, or acomputer user viewing a miniaturized display.

By eliminating the occipital assembly from the half headmount 172embodiment, and employing only thin flexible straps made of lycra orperforated neoprene, the interference between the half headmount 172 andother protective head gear worn by the user, such as a helmet and itsassociated conventional harness, is minimized or even eliminated.

FIGS. 12A and 12B show an additional full headmount embodiment 202 thatdiffers from the embodiments discussed herein in that it is comprised ofa hood 204 instead of a face mask that is kept in place with straps.FIGS. 12A and 12B show a side view and a frontal view, respectively, ofthe hood embodiment 204 which encloses the user's entire head, and whichmay or may not cover the user's neck region. The hood embodiment 204contains a cut out facial area 206 for exposing the user's eyes, mouthand the nasal protuberance, and a cut out aural area 208 that exposesthe user's ears. Because the hood 204 is made of a stretchable and/orbreathable material such as lycra or a perforated neoprene, it maintainsits position on the user's cranium by simple friction. Consequently, iteliminates the buckles, eyelets and/or strap endings found in otherheadmounts.

The underside of the borders to the cut out areas 206 and 208 arecovered by a soft conformal foam pad similar to the pads discussedherein, in that the pad is coated with a moisture wicking material, andcoated with a rot inhibitor. More particularly, the underside of thehood embodiment 204 which directly contacts the user's face, aural area,and/or head contains a single, roughly oval shaped pad, whichcircumscribes the underside of the hood 204. This pad is attached to theinside of the hood 204 by any method described herein or known in theart, including gluing, stitching, velcro, etc.

As shown in FIGS. 12A, 12B, 13 and 14, the hood 204 is a platform forreceiving a mounting frame 210. This mounting frame can either bemounted in the forehead hardware mounting surface 220, or mounted in thecheekbone hardware mounting surface 222. Because the mounting frame 210is made of molded thermoplastic or similar elastomer, the lens notch 212in the mounting frame 210 is flexible and accepts and holds in place thevision enhancement lens and/or vision protection lens 214 employed bythe user. The mounting frame 210 also contains multiple mounting tabs216 which are inserted into and held in place by the correspondingmultiple mounting slots 218 located along the forehead hardware mountingsurface 220, and/or along the cheekbone hardware mounting surface 222.Each mounting slot 218 is formed by first folding the hood material backonto itself and stitching it in place resulting in a hem, and thencutting out a portion of the folded hem material to result in themounting slot 218 as shown in FIG. 13. The mounting slot could also becreated by any other method known in the art.

As shown in FIG. 14 the mounting frame 210 also contains a foam backing224, similar in compression, coating etc. to the padding describedherein for relieving pressure against the user's forehead, and containsan insert groove 226 for accepting a corresponding insert attached to avision head-mounted display or night vision device. Inserting acorresponding insert attached to the vision head-mounted display ornight vision device into the insert groove 226 allows the head-mounteddisplay or night vision device to be suspended in front of the user'seye(s). The insertion of the mounting tabs 216 into the mounting slots218 provides the forehead hardware mounting surface 220 and thecheekbone hardware mounting surface 222 enough rigidity to mount andkeep in place the various head-mounted vision enhancement andcommunication hardware employed by the various user groups discussedherein.

By allowing the vision assist devices to receive support from theforehead hardware mounting surface 220 or the cheekbone hardwaremounting surface 222, or both, a vision assist device which is heavierthan a pair of safety glasses (e.g., a night vision device) can beadequately supported, thereby reducing or eliminating movement of thevision assist device in front of the user's eye. Doing so also allowsthe mounting of such heavier equipment without requiring that it becantilevered in front of the user's face. Although the forehead hardwaremounting surface 220 as depicted in FIG. 12B runs the length of theuser's eyebrows, it has no fixed length. Similarly, although thecheekbone hardware mounting surface 222 is depicted in FIGS. 12A and 12Bas running approximately the length of the user's cheekbone, it also hasno fixed length.

All the inventive headmount embodiments discussed herein all overcomemany of the problems associated with the prior art headmounts. Forexample, the use of all the differing types of straps discussed herein,as well as the hood embodiment eliminate the use of a conventionalharness which tightly grabs the user's head so as to bind the platformto the user's head, resulting in pain to the user. Eliminating theconventional harness not only eliminates the pain associated with itsuse, it also eliminates the need to tightly bind the harness to theuser's head so as to maintain the position of the vision enhancingdevice in front of the user's eye(s). The thinness of those same strapsand buckles, as well as the thinness of the hood also serve to eliminatethe bulkiness of conventional headmount equipment. Accordingly, the thinstraps allow the various embodiments discussed above to be compatiblewith other head-mounted equipment, such as helmets.

Prior to using the full and half headmount embodiments discussed herein,the user would adjust and set the tension of the straps before placingthe convention harness on their head. Although the initial use of thefull head and the half head embodiments still require a conventionaltrial and error method of strap adjustment via eyelets and doubletbuckles for user accommodation, after this one time setting, donning anddoffing of these headmount embodiments is easy, placement of the deviceis repeatable, and the tension of the straps is immediately set to theuser's liking. By setting the tension of these straps prior to placingthe full head embodiments or the half head embodiments on their head,the user eliminates the problems associated with use of the conventionalheadmounts, such as positioning the platform with one hand while roughlyadjusting the straps with the other, and then employing both hands tofinely adjust the tension and length of all the straps until the harnessis properly fitted. Instead, with the inventive full headmount and thehalf headmount embodiments discussed herein, the user can roughly setthe tension in the straps while it is on their head by simply using onehand to pull on the appropriate straps in combination with eithereyelets or doublet buckles. And then to finely set the tension in thestraps simultaneously, the user simply feeds the adjustment tongue intothe occipital buckle as described herein. Advancing the adjustmenttongue through the occipital buckle via the adjustment leverrespectively, results in even finer tuning of either the full headmountor the half headmount embodiments.

Certain embodiments discussed herein rely on double-eyelets to adjustthe tension in the straps, instead of employing buckles. Eliminating thebuckles also eliminates the discomfort and problems sometimes associatedwith using such buckles.

Moreover, because the full headmount, the half headmount and the fullhead hood embodiments use such a thin material in the straps or in thehood, those embodiments do not interfere with the helmet's suspensionsystem, as does the harness of conventional headmount equipment.Eliminating this interference also eliminates the associated hotspotscommonly caused by such harnesses. Eliminating the interference betweenthe top straps or the hood, and the helmet's suspension system alsoeliminates the problem of attaining and maintaining the properadjustment of the helmet in conjunction with the headmount equipment.

The eyewear bridges discussed herein are designed to allow vision assistdevices to be mounted directly to them by any means known in the art.Additionally, the eyewear bridges discussed herein are compatible withthe user's vision enhancement or protection equipment because theeyewear bridges provide enough space under the respective face mask toallow the arms of the protective eyewear to wrap around the user'scranium. By not forcing the arms of the protective eyewear over therespective face mask, the arms of the protective eyewear fit much moresnuggly against the user's head. This results in the eyewear being muchmore stable on the user's head. Similarly, the hood embodiment not onlyalso allows for the use of eyewear, it actually aids in its stability.For example, because the hood is made of a flexible material, it allowsthe arms of the eyewear to slide under the hood. And because that samematerial is compressive, it actually holds the arms of the eyewear inplace against the user's head.

Moreover, because the forehead hardware mounting surfaces as well as thecheek hardware mounting surfaces are recessed from the frontal portionof the user's face as shown in at least FIGS. 1-3, 8-9, 11A-11B and12A-12B, especially in regard to the user's mouth region, theembodiments described herein overcome the short comings of theconventional headmounts by allowing for the use of communication devicesor breathing apparatus while simultaneously wearing the headmountequipment. Similarly, because the forehead hardware mounting surfaces aswell as the cheek hardware mounting surfaces are recessed from thefrontal portion of the user's face as shown in at least FIGS. 1-3, 8-9,11A-11B and 12A-12B, especially in regard to the user's visual region,the embodiments described herein overcome the short comings of theconventional headmounts by eliminating the extension of the headmountinto the user's field of vision, thereby offering the user a full fieldof view.

Another situation in which constriction of the user's cranium mightoccur, along with the resulting discomfort and pain, arises when theuser's conventional headmount equipment prevents the expansion of thecranium during not only hot weather, but in response to the userexpending physical energy. Similarly, conventional headmount equipmentwill not contract along with the cranium when the cranium cools duringcolder weather. Therefore, as the cranium cools and contracts thetypical headmount loosens and allows the headmount equipment to move outof place. However, the full head embodiments, the half head embodiments,and the hood embodiments all serve to counteract these deleterious sideeffects caused by wearing conventional headmount equipment. For example,the pads in all the embodiments have some degree of compression set, andwill expand or contract against the user's cranium as needed so as toensure a tight fit of the inventive embodiments to the user's cranium.Similarly, because both the elastic straps and the hood are comprised oflycra, perforated neoprene or similar elastic materials, all will expandor contract in relation to the user's cranium so as to maintain a tightor snug fit without causing any pain or discomfort to the user. Byeliminating the user's motivation for removing the headmountembodiments, the user will increase the amount of time they actually usethe inventive headmount embodiments described herein.

It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art of thepresent invention that it may comprise a variety of different componentsand/or configurations. Separate devices may be used to implement eachfunction. According to such an embodiment of the invention, acombination of the hood embodiment and the half headmount embodiment maybe configured to implement the various aspects of the invention. Othercomponents, configurations, or combinations thereof may also be used.

The present invention has been described in reference to a headmountdevice for vision enhancing devices used by, for example, combat groundtroops. However, the headmount embodiments disclosed herein can also beused for mounting other types of devices that aid the user in situationsinvolving: ground support personnel; fixed wing aviation; rotaryaircraft aviation; aviation ground support personnel; utility vehicletransport; armor vehicle transport; security/military police; lawenforcement and SWAT operations; devices used by sportsmen, boaters andcommercial fisherman including navigational and fish finding devices;commercial maintenance; devices used in virtual reality entertainmentand virtual reality training; as well as by surgeons using microscopiclenses or surgical positioning equipment.

These and other embodiments and uses of the invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification andpractice of the invention disclosed herein. The specification andexamples should be considered exemplary only.

1-17. (canceled)
 18. A headmount apparatus for mounting visionenhancement equipment thereon, the headmount apparatus comprising: atleast one mounting frame for attaching vision enhancement equipment; anda hood configured to fit over a user's head and having at least oneopening through which the subject may see, the hood being made at leastin part from an elastic material and comprising at least one devicemounting surface for accepting the at least one mounting frame andaffixing the frame to the hood.
 19. The headmount apparatus according toclaim 18, wherein the hood is further comprised of at least one contactpad positioned at a corresponding at least one contact point positionedbetween the hood and the user's head, for supporting at least in partthe vision enhancement equipment.
 20. The headmount apparatus accordingto claim 19, wherein the at least one of many contact points include acheekbone contact point and a forehead contact point.
 21. The headmountapparatus according to claim 18, wherein the at least one pad iscompliant so as to conform to the user's head.
 22. The headmountapparatus according to claim 18, wherein the at least one of many padsare coated with a moisture wicking covering.
 23. The headmount apparatusaccording to claim 22, wherein the pads are coated with a rot inhibitor.24. The headmount apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the hood isfurther comprised of an elastic material which conforms to the user'shead.
 25. The headmount apparatus according to claim 24, wherein thehood is thin enough so as to not interfere with other protectiveheadwear worn on top of the hood.
 26. The headmount apparatus accordingto claim 18, wherein the mounting frame is further comprised of aplurality of mounting tabs which are inserted into a plurality ofmounting slots provided in the at least one device mounting surface. 27.The headmount apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the mountingframe is further comprised of a foam backing attached to rear portion ofthe mounting frame, a lens notch in the forward bottom portion of themounting frame for mounting lenses, and an insert grove in the forwardedtop portion of the mounting frame for mounting vision enhancementequipment.
 28. The headmount apparatus according to claim 18, whereinthe hood further contains a facial cut out to provide clearance for theeyes and mouth of the user, and contains an aural cut out to provideclearance for the ears of the user.